Pamela Uba,

Miss Ireland

Becoming the first ever Black Miss Ireland has been amazing. Girls like me can look up now and say, ‘I can do these things too’. I’m just proud of the fact that I can give hope to other ethnic minorities across Ireland. Ireland is a wonderful country and it’s great to see us tapping into all that diversity.

You have to start somewhere. Immigration to Ireland did really only kick off properly over the last few years. As we develop, and as we change and evolve as a community, that change needs to be represented in all areas, and it’s brilliant that I can pave the way for others to follow. People will always come to face some kind of negativity when they are different. The more we pursue a more diverse and inclusive Ireland, the better.

It only makes your community stronger, because you have different ideas. It’s also about looking at infrastructure in businesses and companies.

You should try to get everyone’s perspective; you should have different employees with different skillsets. It’s not just about having somebody as the representative for that group, it’s about looking at what different people have to offer. Everybody has different layers that they can bring to the table.

Read Part 1 of 100 Voices: #AllAgainstRacism, in the current issue of Hot Press. Available to pick up in shops now, or to order online below:

Special thanks to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission for their support in this project.